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1989 Callao bombing
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Terrorist attack in Callao, Peru
1989 Callao bombing Callao.jpg The port in 2005 Port of Callao, Peru 1989 07 05 12 4 0.08 S 77 9 0 W inline,title EDT Bombing Communist terrorism Soviet citizens 0 33 Shining Path (alleged)Sendero Luminoso: Peruvian Terrorist Group § Partial Incident Chronology Department of State Bulletin https://books.google.com/books?id=lbf-DSUKic0C 1989-12-01 2153 89 49–52 the Internal conflict in Peru
The 1989 Callao bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred on July 5, 1989, in the vicinity of the port of Callao, the main seaport of Peru. The attack targeted Soviet seamen who were stationed in the port, along with their wives.Patterns of Global Terrorism U.S. Department of State 1990 34 es https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5p9wubEwg8C
Background
Relations between the governments of Peru and the Soviet Union had become stronger after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power.33 Soviet Sailors Injured in Peru Bus Bombing https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-06-mn-4004-story.html 1989-07-06 Los Angeles Times The two countries reached an economic agreement to allow approximately 20 trawlers to fish in the waters of the Constitutional Province of Callao in exchange for a percentage of the fishing remaining in the port. Likewise, the Soviet fishermen had permission to land on the Peruvian shore, and several shops in Callao catering exclusively to Soviet visitors were opened.
Politically, the Gorbachev government gave support to the Alan García government by taking a stand in its favor in the war against the communist insurgency of Sendero Luminoso and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. In addition, the Soviet government sold helicopters to García to undermine the insurgency. 5 July 1989 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/07/05/Soviet-tourists-hurt-in-Peru-bus-bombing/4954615614400/ Soviet tourists hurt in Peru bus bombing UPI This caused SL to take a militant stance against USSR interests in Peru, to the point of despising even civilians of Russian nationality in the South American country.
In 1986, supporters of Sendero Luminoso (SL) had exploded a bomb targeting Soviet citizens engaged in fishing who had permission from the Peruvian government to be stationed in the port of Callao. That same year, SL militants attempted to carry out a massacre at the Soviet embassy in Lima, failing in their attempt.
Attack
On July 5, 1989, three buses were in a part of the Port of Callao that facilitated Soviet fishermen and sailors between Callao and Lima who had landing permission as agreed between the Peruvian and Soviet governments. The foreigners were visiting a craft shop near the buses. When the Soviets were boarding the vehicles, an explosion occurred under the largest bus. The impact of this explosion destroyed the façade of the three-story craft store that the victims had recently departed from.
The other two smaller buses with 35 passengers each were also affected, but the largest bus was the most affected, with its 49 passengers being evacuated to hospitals in Lima. All the seriously injured were on the largest bus, with 20 injuries being first reported, later rising to 33, four of whom were in a critical state.
Aftermath
No terrorist organization officially claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Ministry of the Interior reported that the modus operandi of the attack was that of Sendero Luminoso. The then PNP officer Oswaldo Díaz Salvador said that witnesses reported that two young people were seen placing a package on the bottom of the large bus in the vicinity of the attack site at a time the Soviets were not in their vehicles. The Peruvian National Police said that four people were being sought, saying that two more suspects fled in a car immediately after the explosion.
Attacks against the USSR continued, as the Soviet embassy was again bombed in October 1989.
See also
1986 Soviet embassy attack in Lima
1987 North Korean embassy attack in Lima
Japanese embassy hostage crisis
References
Category:Terrorist incidents in 1989
Category:Peru–Soviet Union relations
Category:1989 crimes in Peru
Category:Shining Path attacks
Category:Terrorist incidents in Peru in the 1980s
Category:1989 building bombings
Category:Building bombings in Peru
Category:Bus bombings
Category:Bus incidents in Peru
Category:July 1989 in South America
Category:Maritime incidents in 1989
Category:Maritime incidents in South America